Suit: Avenue jeweler hasn’t paid promised $25,000 or returned diamond

Eleven lawsuits in about 20 months have similar allegations against jeweler Christopher Kaufmann.

A Boca Raton woman has filed a lawsuit against Christopher Kaufmann, alleging the Worth Avenue jeweler hasn’t given her the money or returned a nearly 5 carat diamond he promised to sell for $25,000.

Kaufmann signed an agreement on May 30 to sell the 4.8 carat diamond for Jean Curtis, according to a receipt attached to the lawsuit. Curtis alleges she tried to get the diamond back after several months had passed and Kaufmann told her he hadn’t sold it. But the lawsuit says Kaufmann refused to return the diamond or give her the money even after receiving a Nov. 25 demand letter from her attorney, Peter Gregory.

It’s the 11th lawsuit filed by a client against Kaufmann in less than two years. They all have similar allegations: Kaufmann took jewelry to sell on consignment, didn’t pay the promised amount and won’t return the jewelry. Six of those lawsuits have settled or have court-ordered judgments. The other five remain open. All are civil complaints with no criminal charges involved.

Kaufmann, owner of Christopher Kaufmann Le Salon, said he’s made partial payment to Curtis — although there’s no indication of that in the lawsuit. Kaufmann, 54, said he’s been in the jewelry business for 38 years, more than 20 of those on Worth Avenue.

“I offered her twice the price she could have gotten elsewhere,” he said. “I’m very generous when it comes to offering very high prices for people who come here with things they want sold. I do the very best I can. The limitations are the tough market conditions. The bottom line is my heart is in the right place. I always make payments and get everyone paid off.”

Other lawsuits

Other lawsuits against Kaufmann include:

* Canadian show jumper Eric Lamaze, a 2008 Olympic gold medalist, filed a lawsuit in August against Kaufmann. Lamaze, a Palm Beach resident, alleged the jeweler agreed to sell a diamond ring on consignment for $65,000, but gave him only $10,000. In January, a judge ordered Kaufmann to pay Lamaze $60,860. Wellington attorney Craig Galle, who represents Lamaze, said Kaufmann has been making scheduled payments on time.

*Robert Denenberg sued Kaufmann and Nikolas LLC, the company that owns La Salon, in August 2013, alleging Kaufmann agreed to sell two South Sea pearl necklaces for $60,000 but gave him only $42,000. Denenberg received the $18,000 owed to him plus legal fees, according to Denenberg’s attorney Mandell Sundarsingh.

*Palm Beacher Judith Knudsen sued Kaufman in January 2014, alleging he took her 15.07 diamond ring worth $585,000, to clean and wouldn’t return it. The parties reached a settlement and Kaufmann returned her ring last April.

*Kathryn Woody of Vero Beach filed a lawsuit against Kaufmann in March 2014 in Indian River County after he agreed to sell her diamond ring and pay her $50,000, but she received only $20,000. Chip Woody, Kathryn’s husband, said his wife received the remaining $30,000 plus legal fees just before Kaufmann was scheduled for a deposition in the case in October.

*Aneice Lassiter of West Palm Beach filed a lawsuit against Kaufmann in March 2014, alleging she consigned a six-carat diamond ring in August 2012 and was owed $30,000 upon sale of the ring. She asked for the ring or the cash, but she received neither. The case is still open, according to court records.

*Former Palm Beach resident Marcia Pellar sued Kaufmann in May, alleging he promised to sell a pair of Colombian emerald earrings, each weighing 8 carats, and a Thai ruby ring, also about 8 carats, for $60,000 and $35,000 respectively. Kaufmann also borrowed $20,000 from her and failed to repay $2,000 of that amount, plus accrued interest. In December, a judge ordered Kaufmann to pay Pellar $109,193.

*In June, Lawrence Fischer, trustee for the estate of Mary Fischer, sued Kaufmann for $75,000, alleging he failed to pay for three out of the six pieces of jewelry consigned to him. According to court records, the case settled in January for $45,000.

*In August, Denver Smith and Leigh Wagner filed a lawsuit, alleging they consigned four pieces of jewelry with Kaufmann in October 2010. He promised to pay them no less than $61,500 in total. He returned a $25,000 ring and later paid them $26,000, leaving an unpaid balance of $10,000. They’re also asking for $36 in bank fees for three bounced checks and $1,500 in attorney’s fees. The case is still open.

*Patricia Theryoung of Jupiter filed a lawsuit against Kaufmann in September, alleging he promised to sell her three-strand pearl necklace and pay her $90,000. He paid her $30,000 and owed her the remaining $60,000. The case remains open.

*Gloria Guggenheim Danziger of Palm Beach sued Kaufmann in December, alleging he failed to pay her $290,300 he promised for selling 10 of her diamonds. He paid her only $81,000 since taking the diamond in June 2013. She is suing for more than $600,000 plus attorney’s fees and court costs. The case remains open.

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